More than 1,000 people have launched a bid to save a village post office.

Blackhill branch is one of seven in County Durham earmarked for the axe in a national programme of closures and it caused "shock, anger and dismay" in the community.

Some 1,100 villagers have now signed a petition to keep it open. Kulvinder Singh, who runs a general dealer's store next to the post office, has offered to run it herself but Post Office bosses have yet to give her a reply.